Improvement in lightning-conductors



0. WHITE.

. Lightning Rod.

No. 19,819. Patented March 30, 1858 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OREN WHITE, OF RAOINE, \NISOONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO HENRY U. JANES, OF

' SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT lN LlGHTNlNG-CONDUCTORS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 19,819, dated March 30,1858.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, OREN WHITE, of the cityof Racine, in the county of Racine and State of Wisconsin, have inventeda new and Improved Lightning-Rod or Conductor of Electricity; and I dohereby declare that the following is a full and exact descriptionthereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to theletters of reference marked thereon.

The usual mode of constructing lightningrods is attended by many seriousdisadvantages. An iron rod, when made of the size requisite for aconductor, is necessarily very stiff, and cannot be readily adapted tovarious angles. Such conductors require numerousjoints,atonceinconvenientandexpensive. The lengths, being straight andinflexible, are diflicult of transportation, and usually require to becut and new joints made to adapt them to the varying heights ofdifferent buildings. Moreover, they are not so perfect conductors ofelectricity as a rod or wire having entire continuity throughout.

My invention is an improvement in the construction of ii ghtnin g-rods.It consists of making the rod of iron wires inclosed in a strip ofsheet-copper, and also of a clutch or joint made of sheet metal forconnecting a branch rod to the main or ground rod.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1, A represents a coil of my rod,ready for transportation or use, with the ends erect to show the mode ofadjusting the points. This rod is twisted, but in Fig. 2, B and G, therod is not twisted. Fig. 5 shows a cross-section of the rod, D being theiron wire, while E repre sents the strip of copper wrapped around thewires in the form of a figure 8. Figs. 3 and 4 show the separate partsof my clutch or joint.

In constructing my rod, I employ machinery, so that the work isperformed with great facility. For ordinary rods I use No. 8 iron wireand sheet-copper of the weight of 12 ounces to the square foot. A stripof this copper one and oneeighth inch in width is wrapped around the twoiron wires, as seen at Fig. 5, which is a cross-section of the rod whenfinished. WVhen completed this rod has the external appearance of twocopper wires twisted to gethcr, presenting an even, unbroken surface tothe atmosphere. It is very flexible, and consequently may be coiledindefinitely and be easily transported to the place where it is to beused. Then it is rcadilyuncoilcd and may be erected withoutjointing themain rod. Being flexible, it is readily adapted to any angle or corner,yet it possesses great strength and durability, and it is a perfectconductor.

The ordinary points may be employed with my rod. They may be made largeenough to slip upon the end of the rod, as seen at G, Fig. 1, or theymay be smaller, so as to (it the iron wire, as shown at H H, Fig. 1,where the copper is cut away and the ends of the iron wires slightlyseparate, so as to receive the two points. In Fig. 2 is seen a differentpoint, consisting in part of copper, I, while the tip j is of differentmetal.

My new clutch or joint is made of sheet metal, and consists of twoparts, the clutch itself, L, Fig. 3, and the thimble K, Fig. 4. In themodel sent to the Patent Office, the clutch is electroplated, but thisis not necessary.

The common mode of applying the clutch is shown at Fig. 2, in which 0represents the main or ground rod and B an additional point or upright.In the first place, the clutch L is wrapped around the main or groundwire 0, at the place where it is desired to attach an additional uprightor point. Then the thimble K is slipped upon the rod B which beinginserted into the clutch, as seen in dotted lines, the thimble is pushedhome so as firmly to embrace the clutch and foot of the upright. In thisway rod B is kept in contact with rod 0, while the clutch increases thequantity of metal about the joint, forming a perfect conductor. Thisclutch can be employed, not only for additional uprights, but forconnecting additional points or branch rods wherever they are desired.

Although I have mentioned a particular size of wire and weight of copperas suitable for my rod as commonly used, I do not limit my self to thesame, but propose to vary the size and weight according tocircumstances. The clutch and thimble also may be somewhat .varied inform and application without departing from my improved joint, or thethinlble may be made to embrace the main rod an d the end of the branch,which in that case may be bent at right angles near the end, as seen inFig. 2, f; but I prefer the form shown in Fig. 3.

This mode of constructing joints by the use of plate metal, in eitherform above described, and the use of my flexible rod, not onlydiminishes the labor of making rods, but greatly facilitates theerection of rods upon buildings and greatly lessens the cost of theentire rod.

By inclosing the iron in copper remarkable toughness is secured withoutgreat expense, so

I have been using this rod for some time, and I find it practically agreat improvement. The judgment of scientific men confirms my ownopinion.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. A lightning-conductor consisting of iron wires enwrapped bysheet-copper, for the purpose of increasing the strength and theconducting-power of the rod without materially lessening its flexibilityor greatly increasing the expense of manufacture, as set forth.

.2. The sheet-metal joint or clutch for connecting additional rods orpoints to the main rod, as described. t

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

OREN WHITE.

Witnesses ALBERT G. KNIGHT, L. JANES.

